Exploration of Carabao Mango Peel as a Source of Natural Dye for Use in

Cotton Fabrics
Nathaniel F. De Guzman1 Colonel Sherlon Vance III V. Gonzales1 Julienne Skye L. Lim1
Christopher James C. Yap1
1
De La Salle University Integrated School (Manila)
corresponding author:[email protected]

Dr. Joel Garcia2, Research Adviser

2
De La Salle University

Abstract: The textile industry faces challenges in its dyeing processes due to the toxicity of
synthetic dyes, significantly endangering the environment and human health. This study explores
the use of natural dyes as a sustainable substitute for synthetic dyes in the textile industry, aiming
to mitigate these environmental and health risks. The peels of Carabao mango (Mangifera indica),
which are abundant in the Philippines, were utilized as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative
source of natural dyes. An aqueous extraction technique was employed to obtain natural dyes from
mango peels. A synthetic dye, the Master fast dye, was used as a reference dye to be compared
with the cotton fabric samples dyed using the mango peel dye at different mordant combinations.
The performance of these dye and mordant formulations was tested for color fastness to water,
light, and rubbing on cotton fabrics and evaluated using UV-Vis spectroscopy and AATCC 5-step
grayscale. The results indicate that while the synthetic dye performs better in water submersion
tests, the dyes obtained from mango peels show superior performance in color fastness to rubbing
and sunlight exposure. This study suggests that mango peel dyes have the potential to be an
eco-friendly and effective alternative to synthetic dyes in cotton fabric dyeing, highlighting the
importance of further exploring natural dye options to reduce the environmental and health
impacts associated with synthetic dyes in the textile industry.

Keywords: Carabao mango peel; sustainable dyeing; plant-based dyes; dye extraction; cotton
fabrics

1. INTRODUCTION factories. Additionally, improper chemical waste disposal

from these factories often involves directly releasing waste
Synthetic dyes are widely used in the textile into rivers, resulting in water contamination, aquatic habitat
industry because they offer various colors and shades that destruction, health risks, and decreased soil productivity
may not be easily achievable with natural dyes. They also (KENT, 2021). These problems underline the need to find
exhibit excellent color fastness properties, meaning they sustainable alternatives to synthetic dyes that are less
retain their color and resist fading even after repeated environmentally harmful.
washing or exposure to light (Manzoor & Sharma, 2020).
However, these synthetic dyes pose a significant hazard as Natural dyes serve as a promising alternative to
they contain harmful chemicals, including mercury, lead, and their synthetic counterparts, aiming to alleviate the
benzene, which have been shown to pose significant health environmental challenges associated with textile dyeing
risks given extended exposure to humans, specifically those processes. They are derived from renewable sources such as
working in the textile industry (Ziarani et al., 2018). Another plants and offer biodegradability and less toxicity than
major issue with synthetic dyes is that they require high water synthetic dyes, thereby minimizing environmental pollution
consumption during production and fabric application. For and health hazards (Sharma et al., 2021). Using natural dyes
every 8000 kg of fabric, around 1.6 million liters of water are in textiles helps the industry become more eco-friendly and
consumed (Khandare and Govindwar, 2015). This high water reduces its environmental impact.
demand leads to water scarcity, especially in areas near dye
 However, the utility of reported natural dyes peel extract as a natural dye for textile dyeing. From these
remains limited because of restricted color range, variability outcomes, applying Carabao mango peel extract to cotton
in color fastness, and availability issues due to seasonal or fabrics with or without a mordant could yield moderate to
geographical constraints. Additionally, some natural dyes good fastness results.
need more consistency in their dyeing properties, leading to
challenges in achieving uniform and reproducible color In this study, the efficacy of carabao mango peel
outcomes. Moreover, natural dyes typically require mordants extracts as natural dyes for cotton fabrics is explored. It also
to improve the fastness of the dye and achieve vibrant shades. seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of two mordants,
Mordants act as a bridge between the dye and the fabric, pomegranate rind, and potassium aluminum sulfate, in
enhancing the dye's affinity for the fibers and ensuring better enhancing the dyeing process when used with the extracted
adherence. These limitations hinder the broader application of natural dyes. Furthermore, the performance of the natural
natural dyes in textile manufacturing, impacting their dyes on cotton fabrics, considering factors such as color
viability as alternatives to synthetic dyes. fastness to water, sunlight, and rubbing, is assessed.

Natural dyes derived from mango peels offer 2. METHODOLOGY

promising solutions to the limitations encountered by existing
natural dye sources. Mango peel-based dyes present an 2.1. Research Design
extended color range, spanning vibrant yellows, oranges, and
earthy shades (Pavithra et al., 2018). In addition, the The approach adopted for this study is experimental
abundance of mango production and waste in regions like the research. This experimental research design is considered
Philippines provides a consistent and sustainable source for appropriate for investigating the color fastness of the treated
dye extraction, mitigating availability issues often linked with cotton fabrics under various conditions, which allows
other natural dye materials. With this, we sought to controlled manipulation of variables to recognize the
investigate the potential of abundant mango waste in the cause-and-effect relationships. This approach aligns with the
Philippines as a viable source of natural dyes for cotton study's objective of assessing the impact of water, sunlight,
fabrics. and rubbing on the color fastness of the dyed fabrics.

2.2. Materials
Different parts of the mango plant have been found ​ Materials utilized in this experiment, such as
to be suitable as dyes through color fastness testing. Carabao mangoes and pomegranates, were sourced from San
Colorfastness refers to the ability of the dyed fabric to retain Andres Public Market located in Malate, Manila. The
its color when exposed to conditions such as water, sunlight, mangoes (Mangifera indica) were then validated by the
and rubbing. Among the parts of the mango, the dyes Biology Department of De La Salle University. The
extracted from Kent mango leaves and peels have been found pomegranate rinds were then obtained through lyophilization
to achieve more vibrant colors than the rest (Tesfaye, 2015). in the De La Salle University Chemistry Laboratory. The
In addition, using different mordants allows for achieving fabrics supplied from Allied Knitting Mills Incorporated were
various color shades while also assisting in the adhesion of 100% cotton knitted fabric, bleached and scoured, and cut
the dye (Ayele et al., 2020). The results show that when into 16 rectangles of dimensions 14 cm x 12 cm, and
mango peel extract is applied to cotton fabrics using different weighing approx. 3.6 grams. For mordants, potassium
mordants, namely alum, ferrous sulfate, and copper sulfate, aluminum sulfate and pomegranate peel were used. The
moderate to good fastness values were observed, ranging commercial dye used was the Master fast dye. Distilled water
from 4 to 5 on a grayscale where 1 is the lowest and 5 is the sourced from the Department of Chemistry Laboratory of De
highest possible score value. In another study, the natural dye La Salle University was used for the dyeing and extraction.
derived from Nigerian mango peel extracts exhibited The experiment used the following equipment: lyophilizer
enhanced dyeing attributes, improved color yield, and good (TELSTAR LYOQUEST-55), mortar and pestle, beakers,
color fastness properties when applied to silk fabric (Jabar et graduated cylinders, vacuum filter, Whatman filter paper,
al., 2023). These outcomes highlight the potential of mango Hitachi U-2900 Double Beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer,
AATCC 5-step grayscale ISO 105 A02, and a hot plate. Color Fastness

2.3. Methods ​ The color fastness to water was evaluated by

soaking the samples in distilled water (100 mL), which is just
Mordant Extraction enough to submerge the samples under ambient conditions
for 30 minutes, and occasionally pressing and moving the
Two mordants were used for this experiment. The fabric samples to ensure water penetration. The treated fabric
first solution is an extract from pomegranate rinds. To obtain was then removed from the aqueous solution. An aliquot (3
the extract, the rind was lyophilized and ground into a mL) was transferred into a cuvette, and the absorbance
powdered form using a mortar and pestle. The powder (2.88 spectra were obtained using the Hitachi U-2900 Double
g) was then suspended in hot distilled water (28.8 mL, 90 °C) Beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer.
for 60 minutes. The second mordant was a solution of readily
available potassium aluminum sulfate in distilled water using The color fastness to sunlight was tested by
the same powder-to-water content. exposing the treated samples (14x12 cm) to sunlight for 2
days. The tested fabric was then compared to an unexposed
Mordant Application sample (14x12 cm) with the same dimensions and graded
with a 5-step grayscale.
The mordants were applied to the fabrics before
dyeing, also known as the pre-mordanting step. Application The color fastness to rubbing was tested by rubbing
of both mordant solutions followed the same method. Briefly, a spare white cloth (5x5 cm) on the samples to and fro in a
the fabric samples were submerged in a mixture heated to 80 straight line 20 times, 10 times to and 10 times for, at a rate
°C, containing 20% owf (on-weight-fabric) mordant, using a of one cycle per second. The rubbed fabric was then
1:20 MLR (material-to-liquor ratio) for 60 minutes. The compared to an untested dyed fabric sample (14x12 cm), and
mordanted fabrics were then rinsed with water (500mL) twice its color fastness was assessed using the 5-step grayscale.
and hung to dry.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Dye Extraction
​ Color fastness is a crucial parameter in assessing
Dyes from Carabao mango peels were extracted the efficacy of dyes, indicating their ability to maintain their
using an aqueous extraction method. The peels were carefully colors when exposed to various external factors, such as
chopped into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for sunlight, rubbing, and washing. Testing color fastness against
effective drying and extraction. The chopped peels were then these situations is indispensable when it comes to creating a
lyophilized to remove moisture. The dried peels were then dye intended for public use. Ensuring high color fastness is
powdered with a mortar and pestle to further enhance essential to guarantee long-lasting and vibrant colors in the
extraction efficiency. Subsequently, the powdered mango finished product. The results of these tests provide valuable
peels were subjected to an aqueous extraction for insights into the suitability of Carabao Mango Peel dye for
approximately 50 minutes, utilizing distilled water at 100 °C use in textile applications, particularly in terms of its
and a mass-to-water ratio of 66.6 g/L. After extraction, the durability and color retention properties.
dye mixture was filtered using vacuum filtration.
3.1 Color Fastness to Water
Dye Application
To investigate the color fastness to the water of the
The mordanted fabrics were introduced in the dye mango peel dyes, the treated fabrics were soaked in water for
solution, containing 115.2 mL of the filtered dye extract and 30 min. The aliquot from this aqueous solution was compared
172.8 mL of distilled water, and heated to 60 °C for 30 to aliquots of fabrics treated with mordants and Master fast
minutes. The fabric samples were then rinsed with water dye. The absorption profiles (Figure 1) of the aqueous
(500mL) twice and hung to dry in a dark, room-temperature solutions used were obtained to provide insights into the
area.
color fastness to water properties of the dyed fabrics. into the water, resulting in poorer color fastness. The
Absorbance peaks centered at 270 and 210 nm were observed differences in color fastness among the samples align with
for all solutions. The absorbance peak at 270 nm is often the expected trend in color fastness and absorption of the
associated with the presence of tannins, a group of aqueous solutions used for the dyed fabrics. The fabric
polyphenolic compounds found in mangoes (Durgawale et containing no mordant exhibited the highest absorbance,
al., 2016). Meanwhile, the absorbance peak at 210 nm can be indicating the poorest color fastness to water. This outcome is
attributed to specific polyphenolic compounds or aromatic consistent with the understanding that mordants play a crucial
compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and role in enhancing the bonding between the dye and the fabric,
quercetins, that absorb light in the far-UV region (Aleixandre which improves fastness properties. The fabric dyed using
& du Toit, 2018). pomegranate rind mordant, a natural mordant, showed a
lower absorbance (21.5%) compared to the fabric without any
mordant, suggesting better color fastness. This result
underlines the effectiveness of natural mordants in enhancing
fastness properties. Moreover, the fabric dyed using
potassium aluminum sulfate mordant demonstrated an even
lower absorbance (44.4%) than the natural dye without
mordant, indicating superior color fastness compared to the
other samples tested. This finding supports the notion that
potassium aluminum sulfate, a commonly used mordant in
natural dyeing processes, contributes to improved color
fastness. Lastly, the fabric dyed using the Master fast dye, a
synthetic mordant, exhibited the lowest absorbance (76.1%)
compared to the natural dye without mordant, indicating the
best color fastness to water among all samples. Overall, these
results emphasize the importance of mordant and dye
Figure 1 selection in achieving the desired color fastness properties in
dyed fabrics, with synthetic mordants showing the highest
UV-Vis spectra of the aqueous solutions used for dyed fabrics efficacy in enhancing color fastness to water.
untreated (grey) and treated (blue, pomegranate rind;
orange, potassium aluminum sulfate) with mordants 3.2 Color Fastness to Light
compared to a dyed fabric treated with Master Fast Dye
(yellow). Color fastness to light is another important factor in
assessing the performance of dyes, particularly for textiles
The aqueous solution used for the cotton fabric exposed to light during use. The ability of a dye to resist
with no mordant exhibited a peak absorbance of 3.0106 at fading when exposed to light is essential for maintaining the
210 nm. On the other hand, the fabric dyed using intended appearance and color intensity of dyed materials
pomegranate rind mordant had the second-highest absorbance over time.
value of 2.3366 at 210 nm. This is followed by the fabric with
potassium aluminum sulfate mordant, showing a peak To evaluate the colorfastness to light of the mango
absorbance of 1.9206 at 210 nm. Finally, the fabric dyed peel-dyed fabrics, the treated fabrics were exposed to sunlight
using a Master fast dye had a peak absorbance of 0.8705 at for 2 days. The tested fabric was then compared to an
200 nm. A similar trend in absorbance values can be seen in unexposed treated fabric using an AATCC 5-step grayscale.
the other absorption band (270 nm). Table 1 shows the ratings of the color change in the fabrics
after sunlight exposure. These results were collected through
To evaluate the color fastness to water of the the use of a 5-step grayscale. The sample with no mordant
samples, the absorbance values at the two absorption bands performed similarly to the sample with pomegranate peel
of the aliquots were compared. A high absorbance value extract mordant. They both showed slight discoloration after
indicates that a greater amount of dye leached from the fabric sunlight exposure, with a grayscale rating of 4. The
potassium alum mordant sample, on the other hand, achieved
a rating of 4-5. This indicates that it had little to no change in Treatment
color after exposure to sunlight for 24 hours. The results of
Mango Peel Dye + No noticeable 5
the commercial dye indicate an average light fastness, with a
No Mordant change
rating of 3-4. These results indicate that the commercial dye
has good light fastness but is inferior to the other samples.
Mango Peel Dye + No noticeable 5
Pomegranate Peel change
Table 1. Color fastness to light grayscale results
Mordant

Fabric Treatment Observations Results Mango Peel Dye + No noticeable 5

Potassium Aluminum change
Mango Peel Dye + Acetate
Slight Discoloration 4-5
No Mordant
Master Fast Dye No noticeable 4-5
Mango Peel Dye + change
Slight Discoloration 4
Pomegranate Peel
Mordant
​ The pre-mordanted fabrics showed good fastness to
rubbing, with a grayscale rating of 5. Furthermore, the fabric
Mango Peel Dye + Minimal change in 4-5 with no mordant applied also showed a good fastness to
Potassium Aluminum color
Acetate rubbing, with a grayscale rating of 5. On the other hand, the
fabric dyed with a synthetic dye showed a slight discoloration
Master Fast Dye Presence of spots 3-4 after rubbing, with a grayscale rating of 4-5. These results
with lifted color indicate that the dye has a good color fastness to rubbing.

4. CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential of natural
3.3 Color Fastness to Rubbing dyes extracted from Carabao mango peels as an alternative
to synthetic dyes in the textile industry. The color fastness
The color fastness to rubbing is an indicator of their testing revealed that while synthetic dyes may outperform
durability and quality. This property measures the resistance natural dyes in water submersion tests, natural dyes exhibit
of the dyes to transfer onto other surfaces or to change in superior color fastness to rubbing and sunlight exposure.
appearance when subjected to rubbing or friction. These findings highlight the effectiveness of natural dyes,
particularly those from mango peels, in providing
To assess the colorfastness to rubbing of the mango eco-friendly and durable dyeing options for cotton fabrics.
peel dye, the dyed fabrics were rubbed using a spare white The results emphasize the importance of mordant and dye
cloth (5x5 cm) in a straight line 20 times, 10 times to, and 10 selection in achieving desired color fastness properties, with
times fro, at a rate of one cycle per second. The rubbed fabric synthetic mordants showing higher efficacy in enhancing
was then compared to an untested fabric using an AATCC color fastness to water. Overall, this study underscores the
5-step grayscale. Table 2 shows the ratings of the color potential of natural dyes from mango peels as a sustainable
change in the dyed fabrics after rubbing. The results were solution for reducing the environmental and health impacts
evaluated through the use of a 5-step grayscale. associated with synthetic dyes in the textile industry.

Table 2. Color fastness to rubbing grayscale results 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Fabric Observations Results ​ We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who

helped make this research project a success. Above all, we
would like to express our sincere gratitude to our research KENT | super natural basics. KENT.
advisor, Dr. Joel E. Garcia, for his invaluable guidance, https://www.wearkent.com/blogs/news/synthetic-
unwavering support, and insightful feedback during the dyes-vs-natural-dyes
course of this study. We also want to thank the members of
our research group for their commitment and cooperation in Khandare, R. V., & Govindwar, S. P. (2015).
the completion of this study. Lastly, we sincerely thank De La Phytoremediation of textile dyes and effluents:
Salle University for providing access to the labs, training, Current scenario and future prospects.
equipment, and materials needed for our research. We also Biotechnology Advances,
want to mention their financial support, which has provided doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.09.003
the necessary resources to undertake this study.
Manzoor, J., & Sharma, M. (2020). Impact of Textile Dyes
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